I'm Getting Back Into the Horse Business

[brin]

We had horses too when my son was growing up, one for each of us. We had the horses for 10 yrs. and then sold them when my son went off to college. They were an expense for sure but the experience of owning them and the fun and memories make the expense well worthwhile. Just my experience owning horses....I miss them even now. Charlie, my horse - a gaited gelding - Sparkle, my wife's horse - a paint mare and Baron, my son's horse - a pony and he died on the farm of old age.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

...Tractors are much more useful, and are easier to "keep".

No arguments there. In fact, it's hard to have a horse without having a tractor.

 

[tallyho8]

And how much does a free horse cost? A friend gave my wife a free horse. Her sister offered to keep it on her property 30 miles away for free so we agreed to take it. $0

Then we realized we had to buy feed and hay and vaccines and wormers and grooming supplies and medications and a wheelbarrow and pitchforks and get a farrier. $

Then to ride the horse we needed saddles, bridles, blankets, riding clothes etc. $

Then to take the horse somewhere we needed a truck and a horse trailer. $$$$

Then we needed another horse so we could ride together. $

Then we needed the horses closer to home so we could care for them easier and this meant renting stalls in a stable 10 miles away. $$

Horses have a way of multiplying so 2 horses eventually turn into 5 horses. $$$

Then hay is too expensive at the feed store so we have to get it from the farm 100 miles away and need a hay trailer. $$$

Too expensive to board 5 horses so have to buy 16 acres to keep them on. $$$$$

Have to buy a tractor and implements to care for the 16 acres which must be fenced, cleared and maintained. $$$$

Outdoors just won't do, must build a barn. $$$$

Local farriers now up to $100 a horse to shoe and $40 to trim. $

Horse show entry fees, registrations, traveling expenses etc. $$

Horse caretaker each time we go somewhere. $

Vets $$$

Building arena, lights, sand etc. $$$

30 years of memories......priceless..........

 

[hitekcountry]

And how much does a free horse cost? A friend gave my wife a free horse. Her sister offered to keep it on her property 30 miles away for free so we agreed to take it. $0

Then we realized we had to buy feed and hay and vaccines and wormers and grooming supplies and medications and a wheelbarrow and pitchforks and get a farrier. $

Then to ride the horse we needed saddles, bridles, blankets, riding clothes etc. $

Then to take the horse somewhere we needed a truck and a horse trailer. $$$$

Then we needed another horse so we could ride together. $

Then we needed the horses closer to home so we could care for them easier and this meant renting stalls in a stable 10 miles away. $$

Horses have a way of multiplying so 2 horses eventually turn into 5 horses. $$$

Then hay is too expensive at the feed store so we have to get it from the farm 100 miles away and need a hay trailer. $$$

Too expensive to board 5 horses so have to buy 16 acres to keep them on. $$$$$

Have to buy a tractor and implements to care for the 16 acres which must be fenced, cleared and maintained. $$$$

Outdoors just won't do, must build a barn. $$$$

Local farriers now up to $100 a horse to shoe and $40 to trim. $

Horse show entry fees, registrations, traveling expenses etc. $$

Horse caretaker each time we go somewhere. $

Vets $$$

Building arena, lights, sand etc. $$$

30 years of memories......priceless..........

For those that have never owned a horse, this is no exaggeration. The only difference in my case was that the horses were never boarded anywhere else, they were always on our property. And we always bought the hay at the feed store. Oh and we paid a small fortune to buy the horses we didn't get them for free. Everything else was exactly as Tallyho8 described it. I eventually came to the conclusion that the main function of a horse is to turn big piles of money into hugh piles of shi-. You get the Idea.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

For those that have never owned a horse, this is no exaggeration. The only difference in my case was that the horses were never boarded anywhere else, they were always on our property. And we always bought the hay at the feed store. Oh and we paid a small fortune to buy the horses we didn't get them for free. Everything else was exactly as Tallyho8 described it. I eventually came to the conclusion that the main function of a horse is to turn big piles of money into hugh piles of shi-. You get the Idea.

I've seen that happen.

We were always humble (read as poor) enough to get by with old tack, a makeshift lean-to vs. barn, cheap weedy hay from the guy up the street, and we did our own shoeing and trimming and half of our own vet work. Horses are a big responsibility, but they don't have to be a money pit.

New horse owners are almost as valuable to retailers as first time parents. Guys like me can make money off horses because there are guys out there who believe they have to have the stable, premium hay, fancy tack, and high dollar horses.

 

[riptides]

If I didn't have horses, I could easily afford to take a world cruise each year ....

I'll just be selective and chop out the most important part of what you said for my benefit.

 

[riptides]

And how much does a free horse cost?
.......
30 years of memories......priceless..........

You forgot some important points...


You need a bigger truck because the family decided they found the perfect trailor.

You need to see a doctor for your broken fingers when the horse had an issue loading.

You know there is a god, because that calm peaceful feeling came over you as you lay on your back wondering what all the fuss was about, it's just a pony ride. And there are no coyotes on your property, they are just scraggy looking shepards.

30 years of memories......priceless.....